October 30, 2013—Two soil scientists will be visiting Rampello School, Tampa, FL, on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013. Deb Kozlowski and Clay Robinson, authors of Know Soil Know Life, are members of the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA). The school visit is in conjunction with a joint annual meeting of the American Society of Agronomy, and Crop Science Society of America, being held at the Tampa Convention Center. The theme of this year’s conference is “Water, Food, Energy, & Innovation for a Sustainable World” (www.acsmeetings.org).

Kozlowski has a Masters degree in soil science and is currently a teacher at Woods Charter School, Chapel Hill, NC. “Kids have no prejudice when it comes to combining science and art—the messier the better,” says Kozlowski. She will present to grades 3 & 4.

Clay Robinson, PhD, also goes by Dr. Dirt. He takes his message to kids about the “importance of taking care of the limited soils so humans don’t end up hungry, naked, and homeless.” He is a contributor to the Soils Matter blog on soils.org, a service of SSSA. The Society also sponsors soils4kids.org and soils4teachers.org. He will visit 6^th graders at the school.

“Rampello students and faculty are very excited to welcome the soil scientists to our school,” says Liz Uppercue, principal of Rampello. “This is an excellent science enrichment opportunity for students to interact with experts and scientists in their area of expertise and to learn more about the scientific process in action.”

“We are excited to have this opportunity to interact with the students at Rampello,” says Robinson. “Our goal is to help people understand that soils are an important natural resource. They need to be conserved and protected.”

The Soil Science Society of America will also donate copies of Know Soil Know Life to the 6^th grade classroom, and copies of Soil! Get the Inside Scoop to the 3-4^th grade classroom, as well Soils of Florida to the school library. The books are published by SSSA.

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To visit the school on Monday, Nov. 4 to see the soil scientists, contact Tanya Arja, Hillsborough County School District Media Relations, 813-272-4602.